View from the Wing Archives.
United may block middle seats on new Airbus jets so the planes can be certified with fewer flight attendants. The move could create a European-style premium economy row, but the real payoff may be cutting crew costs.
Delta’s plan to fix its most important premium domestic routes just hit another setback: the new flat-bed business class seat it wanted for Airbus A321neos appears to be dead after certification delays. Instead of a differentiated suite that faced passengers toward the window, Delta now seems headed for a more conventional replacement — years later, while its JFK–LAX reliability problems mount and rivals move faster on both seats and Wi-Fi.
I spent three hours in an American Airlines coach middle seat from Washington National to Dallas — and got two and a half hours of real work done. That should not feel revelatory, but after years of chasing upgrades and paying more for domestic first, it made me rethink when the extra space is actually worth the money.
Business class doors have quickly become the next must-have feature after flat beds and direct aisle access, but that does not mean they always make the seat better. On some aircraft, especially narrowbodies, the space used for doors may be better spent on a longer bed, a wider aisle, or a roomier overall seat—raising the question of whether doors deliver real privacy or just the appearance of it.
Delta has finally made its new business class suites official for the Airbus A350-1000 and refreshed A330s, with longer beds, more privacy, and the usual premium-cabin polish. But the more important news for most travelers may be that Delta is also putting real effort into the back of the plane, adding more cushioning, larger screens, USB-C power, Bluetooth audio, and they even claim a little more spaciousness in coach.
A Scottish OnlyFans model says her 30R breasts have forced her to spend more than $50,000 on business class because economy seats do not work for her body. But airlines are not charging for cup size, they are charging for the amount of space a passenger chooses to buy.
United Airlines is introducing a new coach product next year that turns a row of three economy seats into a bed-like space with leg rests, extra bedding, and family-focused amenities. The new Relax Row gives United a fresh upsell between standard economy and Premium Plus, and brings the Air New Zealand Skycouch concept to a North American airline.
The internet is going crazy over the “Cheek Splitter 9000” which looks like a new frontier in how airlines make passengers uncomfortable onboard. But it’s not – instead, it’s a long-standing quirk of aviation safety.
Spirit Airlines says it will emerge from bankruptcy by summer—again. The low-cost carrier’s new strategy means fewer flights and higher-priced premium seats, but given Spirit’s notoriously uncomfortable cabins and poor customer reputation, is anyone really eager to pay more?
Airlines pushed passengers into a bring-your-own-screen world—then cut back the built-in hardware that makes watching comfortable. With laptops barely usable in many seats, travelers are inventing their own ergonomics: seat pockets, airsickness bags, Ziplocs, even hats turned into phone mounts. Here are the best (and worst) DIY setups—and what they say about economy flying today.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
